In an unexpected administrative development, Justice Alok Kumar Verma has tendered his resignation from the office of Judge of the Uttarakhand High Court. The announcement was made official via a notification issued by the Union Ministry of Law and Justice on Wednesday, May 27, 2026.
According to the official communique released by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), the resignation has been accepted with retrospective effect starting from April 30, 2026.
The notification states that Justice Verma’s resignation was tendered in accordance with the provisions of the Indian Constitution:
“Vide Notification of even number dated 27.05.2026, Shri Justice Alok Kumar Verma has tendered his resignation from the office of Judge, Uttarakhand High Court, in pursuance of proviso (a) to clause (1) of Article 217 of the Constitution, with effect from 30.04.2026.”
Under Article 217(1)(a) of the Constitution of India, a sitting judge of a High Court may resign from their office at any time by submitting a written resignation under their hand, addressed directly to the President of India.
A Distinguished Judicial Career
Born on August 16, 1964, in the Varanasi district of Uttar Pradesh, Justice Verma has had a long and highly respected career in the Indian judicial system spanning nearly four decades.
- Early Education: He graduated from D.A.V. (P.G.) Degree College in Varanasi and went on to obtain his LL.B. degree from Harish Chandra Postgraduate College in 1985.
- Judicial Service Entry: In 1987, he joined the Judicial Service of the 1982 batch in Uttar Pradesh, receiving his first posting as a Munsif (Civil Judge, Junior Division) in Jhansi.
- Transition to Uttarakhand: Following the creation of the State of Uttaranchal (now Uttarakhand) on November 9, 2000, Justice Verma opted for the Uttarakhand Judicial Service.
- District Judiciary and Executive Roles: Over the years, he served with distinction as a District Judge in several major districts, including Tehri Garhwal, Chamoli, Udham Singh Nagar, and Dehradun. He also brought his administrative acumen to the state executive, serving as the Principal Secretary, Law-cum-L.R. to the Government of Uttarakhand.
- Elevation to the High Bench: On May 27, 2019, exactly seven years prior to the official notification of his resignation, he took the oath of office as an Additional Judge of the Uttarakhand High Court. He was later appointed as a Permanent Judge of the High Court, assuming the charge in May 2021.
No official reason has been cited for the early resignation. The High Court registry is expected to update its roster and allocation of cases in light of this development.
